Former Gophers star Paul Martin (7) keeps an eye on Slovakia forward Tomas Tatar (90) as U.S. goalie Jonathan Quick (32) defends in the first period of their men’s hockey opener at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Thursday, February 13, 2014. (Chuck Myers/MCT)

SOCHI, Russia — Paul Martin could hardly believe it when he was seriously injured again just months before the Olympics.

The 2000 Mr. Minnesota Hockey from Elk River and two-time national champion Gophers defenseman was on the 2006 roster but did not play a single game in Turin.

Four years later, he was poised to anchor big minutes on Team USA’s blue line in Vancouver when his arm was shattered by a Bill Guerin slap shot, an injury that required surgery and wrecked his 2009-10 season with the New Jersey Devils.

Pardon Martin, 31, for wondering whether the Olympic rings really were handcuffs when he suffered a broken tibia in November, early in his fourth season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“At first, yes, I was pretty down, because when you know you’re going to be out a significant amount of time it can be discouraging,” Martin said this week.

Martin proved a quick healer this time. The Penguins activated him from injured reserve Jan. 20.

Martin and his new defense partner, Ryan Suter of the Wild, played a game-high 19 minutes, 46 seconds in Team USA’s 7-1 victory over Slovakia and can expect to log even more in Saturday’s marquee preliminary game against host Russia.

“You’re trying to make sure you’re healthy and at your best come tournament time,” Martin said. “But there was a lot of time left at the point to stay positive and do whatever the doctors said to get healthy. I think getting back was the toughest thing, but now I feel pretty good.”

Another U.S. defenseman in his first Olympics, McDonagh is having a breakout season with the New York Rangers. The Cretin-Derham Hall graduate from St. Paul has the size and skill of an elite shutdown defender, and he is playing with poise and confidence.

He has eight goals among 30 points in 59 games and averages 24-plus minutes per game in his third full NHL season.

“I’m just feeding off my experiences,” McDonagh said. “I’ve played a lot of games, a lot of minutes, the first few years here. I’ve been getting a lot of opportunities on special teams and offense, and really buying into our system with everybody finding our game.”

McDonagh is just 24 and one of six U.S. blue-liners making their Olympic debut. Suter is the only Vancouver holdover.

John Carlson scored Team USA’s first goal against Slovakia while Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk and Kevin Shattenkirk thrived in their initial outing.

“It dawned on me we’re especially young on the back side,” said U.S. coach Dan Bylsma. “Some of these guys have played big games and been in big spotlights but none maybe bigger than the one we were in (Thursday). To get our feet underneath us, especially those young guys on defense, I thought they played large.”

The Rangers made McDonagh the No. 12 overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft out of the University of Wisconsin. He is a two-time member of Team USA’s world junior team and competed at the 2011 world championship.

“I think it hit me watching the Vancouver games, seeing guys I’ve played against there, where I thought if I do the right things and work hard, stay healthy and progress my game, I could give myself an opportunity here,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of things go my way. Staying healthy is a big one. And getting a lot of opportunity and confidence from the (Rangers) coaching staff helps for sure.”

Martin represented Team USA at the 2004 and ’07 world championships, the 2004 World Cup in St. Paul and the 2001 world junior championships. He normally partners with Brooks Orpik, his Penguins teammate, but Bylsma has him alongside Suter — a pair of durable, smooth-skating puck handlers who match up well against opposing top lines.

In nine NHL seasons, Martin never has advanced beyond the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and it has been almost 11 years since he won a championship with the Gophers.

A gold medal in Sochi would validate the hard road he’s traveled.

“I am definitely excited,” Martin said. “There’s a lot of guys who have been here. Every game can be going home or staying. There’s that much more importance on it. I think the attention will be there. Guys will be nervous at first to perform, but once the puck drops it goes away.”

Brian Murphy has been on the Pioneer Press sports staff since 2000, migrating from the Detroit Free Press, where he covered police, courts and sports for four years. Murphy was the Minnesota Wild/NHL beat writer from 2002 to 2008 and has covered the Vikings as a reporter and columnist since 2009. Murphy is a Detroit native and Wayne State University graduate.

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